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Membership

How To Join

Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practicing Catholic men in union with the Holy See, who are at least 18 years old. A practicing Catholic is one who lives up to the Commandments of God and the precepts of the Church. For further information contact our Membership Director (John Collins) or any of our officers Council Officers.

Who Are the Knights?

Starting with the local organization, Resurrection Council, we are a group of men that focus our efforts in six program areas: Church, Council, Community, Culture of Life, Family and Youth. These programs are the foundation of the work done by the Knights of Columbus (KofC) worldwide. We look for Catholic gentlemen that are interested in supporting activities in at least one of these program areas.

We hold one or more events every three months within each of these areas. Is there one that appeals to your interests? For example, for our parish Youth our activities include the annual basketball free throw contest, Easter Egg hunt, Ice Cream Social and Keep Christ in Christmas Poster contest. Just helping at one of those events is a big help to the council and helps the youth of the parish. Of course we hold events in each of our other program areas as well such as our Priest Appreciation Night, support for the Annual March for Life in Washington D.C., our annual KofC Picnic, a Valentine’s Day Mass and Dinner for couples and council nights out for the occasional Monday night football game.

The 24 Hour Knight

Another way to think about membership in the Knights of Columbus is the amount of time needed to be part of the organization. Imagine if you were able to give just 24 hours a year to the Knights of Columbus. What a positive difference you could make in your community and Church. Below is an illustration of just how little time it takes to be an active part of the Knights of Columbus. Even with this minimal commitment you can be an important part of our council and reap the benefits of what membership in the Knights of Columbus has to offer you and your family. Here is a breakdown of the time you might dedicate to the council each year:

12 hours a year reading the weekly parish bulletin, the state and local council newsletters, Columbia magazine, and surfing the state council and Supreme Council Web sites.

2 hours a year volunteering at the council’s annual Tootsie Roll drive for people with intellectual disabilities.

2 hours a year attending, with your family, two council Masses or prayer services at the parish.

2 hours a year on a council-sponsored Church, community, council family or youth project of your choosing.

2 hours a year attending one council meeting. (We meet once a month and while the meeting is normally around an hour, many stay for an hour or so afterwards to talk and have something to eat and drink which is served after the meeting.)

4 hours a year enjoying (again, with your entire family) a council social function such as the Italian Dinner or annual picnic.

There are 8,760 hours in a year. By giving the Knights of Columbus 24 of those hours (less than .3 percent), you will absolutely have a chance to be a better Catholic, a better father, a better husband and a better person. Think of the difference we can make in our communities with more dedicated Catholic gentlemen in our organization.

As a member of the Knights of Columbus you and your family enjoy many benefits, including 12 free issues annually of the Columbia magazine, the world's largest Catholic family magazine, eligibility to join the Knights of Columbus top-ranked life insurance program, and many more family and personal benefits. Join Us!

The Knights of Columbus Organization

The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic family fraternal service organization with more than 14,000 councils and 1.8 million members. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities in service to the Catholic Church, their communities, families and young people.

The Knights provide millions of hours of service and dollars each year to those in need around the world. In 2012, the Knights provided more than $167.5 million and 70 million hours!

Degrees in the Knights of Columbus

The Order is dedicated to the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. These are the virtues of the first through fourth degrees, respectively.
A First Degree exemplification ceremony, by which a man joins the Order, teaches the virtue of charity. He is then said to be a First Degree Knight of Columbus. After participating in the subsequent degrees, each of which focuses on another virtue, he rises to that status. Upon reaching the Third Degree a gentleman is considered a full member.

4th Degree
Any Third Degree member in good standing is eligible for membership in the Fourth Degree. The primary purpose of the Fourth Degree is to foster the spirit of patriotism by promoting responsible citizenship and a love of and loyalty to the Knights' respective countries through active membership in local Fourth Degree groups (called "assemblies"). Certain members of the Fourth Degree serve as honor guards at civic and religious functions, an activity that has brought worldwide recognition to the Knights of Columbus